EMPIRICAL APPROACH IN GEOTECHNICAL ANALYSIS OF FAILURES OF CUTSLOPES: A CASE STUDY

Cutslope failure of surface powerhouse are analysed with Slope mass rating (SMR) and Limit equilibrium method (LEM). The significance of these parameters is to decipher the probability of failure of slope as well as to determine the factor of safety (FS). Combined use of both parameters helps makes more confident to understand the behaviour of cutslope and its probability to fail during construction stage so that failure in any form could be avoided. The results obtained from the SMR and LEM provide a useful and confident solution while dealing with slopes coherently with the start of construction of civil structure in Himalayan terrain. If cutslopes are properly evaluated/interpreted along with requisite rock support then the time and cost overrun can be minimized.